2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X

The big news for Nissan’s Titan truck line is the 2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X powered by a Cummins 5.0-liter turbo diesel V8. This is a serious motor, and Nissan hopes it will help the Titan line to be taken seriously as a competitor to midsize and full-sized trucks from GM, Ford, Toyota and Ram. While the Titan has always been big, as the name implied, it hasn’t had quite the brand recognition or reach of some of the longer-running full size truck nameplates.

Now, with the Cummins engine, this Tennessee-built hauler will go head-to-head with the likes of the Dodge Ram Eco Diesel. The 2016 Titan XD has 310 horsepower, the most in its class, but the real number for those keeping score is a whopping 555 lb-ft of torque. That figure lets the Titan out-tow its main gasoline-powered rivals, with a capacity of more than 12,000 pounds. So if you’re looking for something that can handle boat-hauling duty while still remaining a pleasant long-distance drive, the diesel Titan has a lot going for it.

Un-laden, its fuel economy should be on a par with the much less powerful gasoline V6 pickups. The interior and design aspects of the 2016 Nissan Titan are improved, too, and it now features a useful touch screen and sensibly arrayed buttons for climate control, infotainment, stereo and the integrated trailer braking system. The ride is also smooth — for a truck.

For those who genuinely need the Cummins diesel engine’s capability, the 2016 Nissan Titan XD is a worthy contender. Buyers just looking for bragging rights might flock to this truck as well, but there’s little in the way of obvious visual or sonic cues to proclaim this high-performance diesel’s might. The idle is not particularly loud or chatter-y and there are no giant plumes of black smoke — although if that’s what you’re into, there’s always the aftermarket.